SVEF Benefits Buzz

Silicon Valley Employers Forum
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SVEF Benefits Buzz is a podcast for employers, HR leaders, and benefits professionals navigating the rapidly evolving world of employee benefits. Hosted by the Silicon Valley Employers Forum (SVEF), the show features thoughtful, in-depth conversations with industry experts, healthcare leaders, benefit providers, and innovative employers who are shaping the future of work. Each episode goes beyond headlines to explore what is truly changing—and what employers need to understand to make informed, strategic decisions. Topics include healthcare strategy and cost management, mental health and wellbeing, oncology and complex care, disability and leave programs, compliance, equity, and the employee experience. We focus on real-world challenges, emerging best practices, and practical insights that employers can apply within their organizations. SVEF Benefits Buzz is not about sales pitches or surface-level trends. It is designed to help employers think more critically about benefits, understand diverse workforce needs, and lead with intention in a complex and evolving landscape. New episodes are released regularly, offering listeners clear perspectives, expert analysis, and meaningful conversations at the intersection of benefits, healthcare, and the future of work.

  1. Jun 11

    Beyond the Annual Checkup: How Advanced Primary Care Is Changing Employee Benefits

    Primary care is having a moment — and it’s about much more than annual checkups. In this episode, we sit down with Tim Lieb, SVP of Commercial Markets at Blue Shield of California, to explore what “advanced primary care” really means, why it matters to employers, and how better care at the front door leads to lower costs down the road.

    Beyond the Annual Checkup: How Advanced Primary Care Is Changing Employee Benefits

  2. Jun 11

    Rethinking How Benefits Are Funded: A Conversation on Cell Captives

    If you’ve heard the term “captive” and assumed it belonged to the risk or treasury team, this episode might change your mind. In this conversation, we sit down with Zulu Khan, Captive Employee Benefits Services Lead at Aon North America, to unpack what cell captives are and why benefits professionals are increasingly being asked to drive the conversation. From building the internal business case to navigating implementation, Zulu shares what works, what doesn’t, and what most companies wish they’d known before starting. Whether you’re early in your thinking or ready to make a move, this episode will give you a clearer sense of where to start.

    Rethinking How Benefits Are Funded: A Conversation on Cell Captives

  3. Jun 11

    Beyond Enrollment: Using AI-Powered Personalization to Drive Employer Benefits Strategy

    Tune in as Matt Waldrup, EVP of Product at bswift, joins SVEF to discuss how AI-native, platform-level intelligence enables personalization at scale—activating benefits engagement and helping employers move from administration to strategy. The conversation unpacks AI can drive smarter engagement, earlier care decisions, and measurable outcomes like reduced avoidable healthcare spend.

    Beyond Enrollment: Using AI-Powered Personalization to Drive Employer Benefits Strategy

  4. Jun 11

    Benefits that find you: How AI enables personalized delivery

    Employers are spending more on benefits than ever and yet utilization rates remain stubbornly low. New research from Benifex reveals a striking gap: 64% of employers expanded their benefits in the past year, but only 32% of employees noticed any change. The problem isn’t what’s in the package. It’s whether employees can find what they need when it matters most. In this episode, Adam Mason, Chief Strategy Officer at Benifex, makes the case for discoverability as the new benchmark for benefits success. He explores how AI is moving beyond keyword search toward true contextual understanding, surfacing the right support at the right moment, whether that’s a health scare, a new baby, or a financial crisis. We also dig into what the research says about behavioral nudges, why even millennials want benefits to feel human rather than algorithmic, and what it takes to get started.

    Benefits that find you: How AI enables personalized delivery

  5. May 22

    From Risk to Resilience: Rethinking Maternity Benefits

    Most people assume maternity risk begins the moment someone gets pregnant. But what if the decisions that matter most happen years before? In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Choi from Progyny to talk about why supporting women’s health before, during, and after pregnancy leads to better outcomes for families, and why more employers are rethinking how they approach maternity benefits. From the conditions that quietly shape pregnancy outcomes to the support systems that make a difference, this is a conversation about what it really means to take care of your workforce. Tune in to learn how a smarter, more proactive approach to reproductive health can change the equation, for employees and employers alike.

    From Risk to Resilience: Rethinking Maternity Benefits

  6. Apr 27

    More Than Medication: The Missing Piece in Your GLP-1 Benefits Strategy

    In our latest episode of SVF Benefits Buzz, we sit down with Lisa Talamini, RDN and SVP of Clinical Services at Wondr Health, to tackle one of the most pressing questions in employee benefits today: are GLP-1s enough on their own? As Lisa puts it, “GLP-1s change how much you eat, but they don’t change what you need to eat.” Lisa helps employers drive sustainable outcomes through Wondr, a proven behavior-change program, and Wondr Advanced, which builds on that holistic foundation with clinical obesity care, tailored medication management, and nutrition support to deliver real clinical outcomes and cost savings. From the ROI of pairing medication with behavior change, to building a strategy that works for employees who will never take these drugs, this conversation is essential listening for any benefits professional navigating the GLP-1 landscape.

    More Than Medication: The Missing Piece in Your GLP-1 Benefits Strategy

  7. 11/12/2025

    Rethinking Cancer Care: How Employers are Driving Change

    With Dr Debono and Dr Pryor from Anthem Blue Cross, discover how oncology care is evolving and how employers are leading the way in creating more connected, compassionate support for their people.

  8. 10/29/2025

    Rewriting the Rules: AI, the Future of Work, and the New Era of Employee Communication

    Tune in to hear Jenny Schuster and Kaulen Pickell, Segal Benz, discuss the Rewriting the Rules: AI, the Future of Work, and the New Era of Employee Communication.

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About

SVEF Benefits Buzz is a podcast for employers, HR leaders, and benefits professionals navigating the rapidly evolving world of employee benefits. Hosted by the Silicon Valley Employers Forum (SVEF), the show features thoughtful, in-depth conversations with industry experts, healthcare leaders, benefit providers, and innovative employers who are shaping the future of work. Each episode goes beyond headlines to explore what is truly changing—and what employers need to understand to make informed, strategic decisions. Topics include healthcare strategy and cost management, mental health and wellbeing, oncology and complex care, disability and leave programs, compliance, equity, and the employee experience. We focus on real-world challenges, emerging best practices, and practical insights that employers can apply within their organizations. SVEF Benefits Buzz is not about sales pitches or surface-level trends. It is designed to help employers think more critically about benefits, understand diverse workforce needs, and lead with intention in a complex and evolving landscape. New episodes are released regularly, offering listeners clear perspectives, expert analysis, and meaningful conversations at the intersection of benefits, healthcare, and the future of work.

Information

  • Creator
    Silicon Valley Employers Forum
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    25
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Silicon Valley Employers Forum
  • Show Website
    SVEF Benefits Buzz